August 10, 2025

August 10, 2025

Last night after dinner we walked Main Street Hannibal, MO. We peaked inside the Mark Twain Museum and an attendant waved us in. He said they were open late tonight because the town is hosting their monthly Art Walk. We took a quick run through the small venue. Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain is considered the Father of American Literature. The museum has a set of displays illustrating many of his novels.

The highlight though is upstairs. Norman Rockwell was hired to do the artwork for an Illustrated version of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. His full-scale drawings were donated to this museum and are displayed here. They are the iconic Twain illustrations. Afterwards we visited an art gallery serving wine and snacks.

After breakfast this morning, we walked around Hannibal again. Right across the street on Hill St. is a collection of historic homes associated with Mark Twain including his boyhood home. The residents of this street were the inspiration for some of his classic novels.

We then walked down to the riverfront to check out the American Cruise ship docked in town today. Next to it is a paddle wheel riverboat similar to one Samuel Clemens piloted. It was his dream job until the Civil War shut down traffic. Mark Twain (i.e. mark two) is a depth-sounding term indicating two fathoms (twelve feet) for safe steamboat travel.

We finished walking Main Street checking out some of the shops. Aimee really liked an antique store. Even with a cruise ship in town, Hannibal is an uncrowded low-key tourist town with very friendly residents. It makes for a very pleasurable stop.

We then left town following the Mississippi south to the next old river town of Louisiana. Tired of the twisty road we skip to the highway and an hour later reach the home of my sister in St Charles, MO. She made us a delicious supper with my favorite, mashed potatoes and gravy.